2014 Conference

Science Advice to Governments – a global conference for leading practitioners Auckland, New Zealand 28th-29th August 2014

In a landmark event for science and public policy, the International Council for Science (ICSU) and New Zealand’s Chief Science Advisor, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, jointly convened the first major global summit of leading practitioners of high-level science advice to governments.

The two-day public meeting was held 28-29 August 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand and brought together the world’s leading practitioners of science advice to governments, including chief science advisors and senior representatives of science advisory bodies from Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the United States, Canada and Latin America.

At a time of increasing recognition worldwide of the critical importance of high-level science advisory mechanisms to improving dialogue and collaboration between science, policy- and decision-makers, and society, this summit was an opportunity to explore and share lessons in providing science advice to governments in a variety of challenging policy contexts.

Attended by high level practitioners, academics, students and government officials alike, this conference made accessible key debates in the practice of science advice in a way that other global fora have not done. Over 40 countries were represented by over 220 delegates from all regions of the world, together with representatives of key international organisations. A full video record of the two day event, publications and guest blogs by participants are available here.